Comments

Amora costasays:

so great videos and have Lucy day

Stone Wsays:

Seems like a lot of steps; a bit complicated . . .

John Thomas Jonessays:

More Jam Jar science.Good job.

basil fawltysays:

From what I understand there were no earthworms in the Americas until europeans brought them to there, and before that fungi did the job that earthworms do there now. Obviously nowadays there will be earthworms in terra preta soil in the amazon basin.

Garth Wunschsays:

We are of one mind on this biochar stuff. I live in northern Ontario in Canada, so don't have to worry too much about the oxidative process, but I find that the biochar still helps my plants. I did a small test with biochar and had some interesting results https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q77gxzoCr3w As you note, charcoal is EXTREMELY dusty – I think you're breathing way too much it – I figured out how to crush it without making dust. I haven't made it as fine as you have, but I could get closer with more work, and still no dust.

I purchased high quality hardwood BBQ charcoal with no amendments in it, placed it into a plastic "burlap" bag and immersed it in manure tea for one month to allow it to charge. I don't consider it biochar until it has been biologically activated. Up until that point, it is just plain charcoal, not biochar. I then put a large tarp under my shredder and loosely tied it up around the unit to catch all the bits. Then I put the soaking wet charcoal through the shredder and out came pretty fine material. It isn't as fine as yours, but I'm happy enough with it to add it to my garden. Most everything is smaller than a pea. I suppose I could make it finer by putting it through the shredder again, but not sure that is going to gain me much.

Happy gardening! Great work you are doing helping others learn. I've been using no-dig for five years now, and very happy with the results. It's a really great method for "old-timers" like me (I'm 72 years young) who don't have quite was much energy as we used to 🙂 but it makes sense for gardeners of all ages.

Shalbin Jamessays:

Hii Dave!Are you in kerala now???

Wong Kean Hwasays:

I think we could use some old or broken furniture that made by wood to make biochar ?

Gewgulkan Suhckittsays:

I vaguely recall that terra preta contains soil, biochar, small particles of fired clay, and organic materials such as what you might find in a compost pile.

imagicinationsays:

Nice, looks like fun. I might try that, too. I am making bokashi myself, but terra preta is even better. So thank you for this introduction. Also I love your words of truth. Yes, we must change our ways and I just love seeing people actually doing it. One by one we will change the world <3 peace

Mgs Victor Gomessays:

as a Brazilian, I'm very proud of the Terra Preta

Carol Freemansays:

He's adorable and funny. If only I was 20 years younger!

David The Goodsays:

Thought-provoking as always. Great work and thank you for sharing your experiments.

Davor Maksimovićsays:

I started composting mixed grass from meadows with guinea pig's manure. One warm day just noticed that only manure spontaneously started to 'produce' white mycorrhizal fungi. I'm growing guinea pigs outdoor in cages on pasture. Cavia porcellus are domesticated in South America very very long time ago. Perhaps you should try it? Mycorrhizae are the reason how life was grown over land

Amatus Edwardssays:

You need to allow the mixture to rest for about a week covered in moist conditions before placing it into your garden or planting anything into it.

Richard Sydenhamsays:

I think you working to hard !!as far as I understand what the indos did ( and I don't think they used any science ) was to take all the wast from the village and pile it up until it had rotten down to use on there feilds may be they did make there own charkohl to cook with ? or it was the rest of the wood that they use to cook withAll the west world are trying to reprobuce these soils but they schould be looking at what they were eating and how they livedon these piles of compost was all the waist from the vilage wood ash ,a lot of wast from the fish and ducks but also the human manure they didn't have cows only limas but I think alot comes down to the bacteria in the fish waist that produce oxigen that the other bacteria helped to growone will never know as we or we say the Spainyens killed them

josays:

if you have a spare barrel you can make a ball mill to break up the biochar by connecting it to a motor or pully and throwing in some rocks or steel bearings with it.